Plot: What’s it about?
I hate airplanes. I really do. Don’t get me wrong, I know they’re about 1000 times safer than driving and when it comes to going overseas, there really is no other option, but I’m a guy who likes his space and let’s face it – airplanes don’t do much to accommodate that. Add to that that they’re getting more and more like movie theaters – everyone has to be attached to their cell phone, airline food is essentially a thing of the past as people barge through the aisle with their bags of food from Wendy’s or Subway. Still, when it comes to traveling there really is no other way to go and, thankfully, I only have to do it a few times a year. On a more serious note, it’s also a literal different world after 9/11 with security being at an all-time high and this has brought a new breed of law enforcement to the skies – the Air Marshall. And what a sad state of affairs it is that most of us know about this profession because we’ve seen Bridesmaids? Suffice it to say, I don’t think they’ll show Non-Stop on a transcontinental flight anytime soon, but let’s dive in and check it out from the ground level (so to speak).
Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is a veteran of the NYPD but has since been relieved of duty due some personal issues. He’s now an Air Marshall who wakes up with a Gin and Tonic while flying the friendly skies with gun in tow. On a seemingly routine flight Bill starts to receive text messages via his “secure” phone. The messages are simple enough: Transfer $150 million to me or a passenger dies every 20 minutes. Of course, everyone is a suspect and on a crowded flight Bill trusts no one. We’re presented with every scenario in the book, but as things start happening, Bill has to put his faith in a select few. Will Bill be able to save the day in time or will the plane land with more than a few dead bodies?
Let’s face it, Non-Stop is something we’ve all seen before and the most basic assessment is that it’s Die Hard on an airplane. And it’s been done before with Passenger 57 and Executive Decision to name a few. But the film’s strength lies in a few key elements: it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it does keep you guessing (however at that point, it’s eye-rolling territory). I’ve also got to give credit to Liam Neeson who, at 61 years old, is a bona fide action star. This is an age where most guys retire and play golf, but Neeson has shown in recent years (The Grey, Unknown, Taken) that he’s got the chops and physical prowess to carry a film. No doubt this was the reason behind his casting. We’re also treated to a slew of stars with the ensemble cast: Julianne Moore, Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong’o and Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery to name just a few. I’m not sure how real Non-Stop is but there are far worse ways to spend 106 minutes.
Video: How’s it look?
Set almost entirely in an airplane, Non-Stop has a very unique look and feel to it. For the most part it’s a bit dark, there’s no natural light to speak of and only a few times are we treated to the interior lights being turned on. The result is a very non-conforming look and feel to a film. Granted, the movie takes place inside a plane, so colors are a bit off, the lighting is a bit polarizing and this makes way for some very odd flesh tones. Detail, as we might expect, looks superb, we can see the ageless eyes and face of Liam Neeson in HD glory.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The DTS HD Master Audio track has a few moments and yes shots are fired. The perpetual hum of the engines, the little “ding” when Neeson’s characters’ phone displays a text message and just about everything in between. I’m honestly convinced that every new movie that comes out on Blu-ray will sound pretty darn good unless it’s an intentional choice by the director or a faulty disc. That said, the surrounds do their part, the LFE are involved at a few key moments and vocals are rock solid.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I have no idea as to why the two supplements are divvied up they way they are. One is a “Blu-ray Exclusive” while the other is not. Just put both on both discs! At any rate, let’s check these out:
DVD Extra
- Suspense at 40,000 Feet – A brief short that we’ve all seen before – some interviews with Neeson and the cast with some sneak peeks at behind the scenes footage and a few other assorted goodies.
Blu-ray Exclusive
- Non-Stop Action – Essentially the same thing as the above supplement, though a little more robust in terms of interviews, story and behind the scenes footage.
